Once the barrier disappeared after Zhu Yan closed the hell gate and returned to Yichen, Li Lun focused solely on Yixuan's recovery following his awakening. With the tundra transformed into a heavenly garden and the hell gate having been briefly opened there, no demon will dare to approach it. This allowed them some time to relax. They were close to the Crystal Valley anyways, just two days away, so Zhu Yan chose to build another mansion on the spot—a smaller one this time, equipped with bedrooms so Yixuan could rest comfortably during his awakening process.
While Yixuan's awakening might not have appeared as visually dramatic as Yichen's, it was still immensely significant. In fact, it could be argued that it was even more notable because it involved the merging of two gods' energies within a more limited vessel, unlike the naturally powerful form of a dragon. This proved that each awakening was different, even among siblings sharing the same blood. It also sparked curiosity among the others about the nature of their own awakenings once they arrived at Crystal Valley.
As Yixuan lay resting in bed, Li Lun noticed him whispering the same word softly: "Flower... flower..." Wanting to show he understood, even while Yixuan was unconscious, Li Lun reached for his magical pouch, but Zhu Yan stopped him before he could do so.
"Don't touch the pouch, Li Lun. We already figured out back at your lair that the flower is connected to both Bing Yi and Yichen. When Yixuan awakened, Yichen felt the call of the flower, even when he was distracted by the fight. I sensed it too, and it's only a matter of time before whatever Bing Yi hid in that flower illusion reveals itself. Yichen can feel it, though he's exhausted. The fight drained us all." Li Lun closed his eyes and sighed at this.
"Zhu Yan, about what happened... I'm sorry. I failed both Yixuan and you. One in the past, and the other in the present..." Li Lun began, but Zhu Yan wasn't there to hear his apology.
"Li Lun, it's unlike you to lose confidence. Honestly, being trapped was harsh but perhaps necessary. Without it, Yixuan wouldn't have awakened to his bloodlines so magnificently. And this time it was Yixuan who saved you, which is good for your relationship too. Sometimes, when a strong-willed man like Yixuan, feels unequal to his mate and is saved instead of proving himself an equal, it could impact your relationship later. Don't worry about things that might have been meant to happen, and cherish what you have now. Past mistakes are lessons for the future," Zhu Yan reassured as he moved closer to check Yixuan's pulse.
Li Lun and Bai Jiu had monitored him several times of what remained of that day, but Zhu Yan had his unique way of gauging if the energies within Yixuan were merging smoothly or needed assistance. Fortunately, Bing Yi and Nuwa had always harmonized well, complementing rather than competing with each other—a promising sign that Yixuan's awakening would progress more smoothly than Yichen's.
"How does his awakening look for you?" Li Lun asked, gently brushing an amber bang from Yixuan's forehead, as his previous lush black hair had gradually started to turn into a mix of black and deep amber. Sing of the changes he was already going through, even if from the outside, he looked normal. His horns were now long gone, unlike Yichen.
"I have to admit, the Zhuo family is quite remarkable. Once Yixuan wakes up, his connection with the heavens will be stronger than ever. This will be very beneficial for the rest of the group's awakening. With his assistance, I doubt they'll face setbacks or their lives be in danger after breaking their seals. Yichen still retains some of Bing Yi's power, which will be crucial against the freezing formation's effects when we enter the Crystal Valley. We prepare for worst-case scenarios, but so far, things have worked in our favor. The real challenge will arise when we locate Bing Yi. We still don't know how badly wounded he is or how much strength Cheng Huang has regained. Regardless, he'll most likely be stronger than I am, as he is one of the oldest among demons," Zhu Yan said, looking at Li Lun with increased seriousness.
"Zhu Yan, do we truly stand a chance if Cheng Huang breaks free from Bing Yi's seal? Before the Baize goddess died during the war between gods and demons, Cheng Huang was regarded as an auspicious divine beast, a follower of heaven's will. But after losing her, his grief of losing his lover consumed him, transforming him into a demon so powerful that even Bing Yi couldn't kill him, only seal him away."
"The truth is that Bing Yi was already weakened from the toll of the war. Also, he never expected that one of their own would turn against Nuwa out of misplaced rage. The Baize goddess lost her life to save Nuwa, struck down by a demon, yet he holds her death against the gods and demons alike, consumed by hate. When Nuwa was sealing the demon world with the five-colored stones to separate the realms completely, no one—not even my father—foresaw Cheng Huang's vengeance driving him to such an act. My father foresaw a future where things could go awry, although he never saw exactly who was behind it. He speculated, but never received full confirmation. Similarly, he foresaw successes and failures in our future. No fate is writing in stone. It's up to us to craft a happy ending." Zhu Yan moved closer to Li Lun and slightly tapped his shoulder.
"But..." Li Lun was about to voice his own worries, yet Zhu Yan shook his head.
"I know what you are thinking. Can Cheng Huang kill us if he escapes? Yes, he can. Will we allow it? No, we won't. Why? Because we have far more to lose than he does. Personally, I refuse to let him kill my adorable husband in cold blood over an ancient grudge. One that might evoke some sympathy but can't be justified. It's the same with you and Yixuan, and everyone else, including Yun Guang, who, like you, has finally found his soulmate after a lifetime of waiting. None of us is willing to give up. The Zhuo brothers' awakenings have shown that love can transform a young man into a dragon deity and the other to open the gates of heaven. Meanwhile, my love for Yichen could make me open even the gates of hell. Nothing is beyond reach, no power is absolute, and desperation can produce miracles Cheng Huang would never consider. He may be more powerful, but that doesn't mean we will be defeated. Cast away any worry you may still have. Your soulmate certainly did it for you, and he succeeded. Do you have anything coming from the gate?" Zhu Yan asked, and Li Lun sighed in resignation.
"Da Wu and Yu She are closely monitoring the situation there. They've even set up a lethal poisonous cloud near the gate, though they mostly spend their time in heated sessions within my lair. The nerve... and it's all Wen Xiao's doing," Zhu Yan chuckled.
"That's a small price to pay, and besides, once this is over, you won't be spending much time in your lair anyway. If we succeed, remember that your soulmate is human with deep connections to the human world. As friends, I can offer both of you a place with me and Yichen, as before, or I can build you a mansion wherever you choose. Just let me know," Zhu Yan offered gladly.
"So, will you be staying in the Forest of Convergence for good?" Li Lun inquired.
"Someone needs to watch over the demons in the forest. Since the seal was never fully completed, it's my responsibility to guard the gate. Of course, Yichen and I will still travel occasionally, but our home will always be that forest."
"Then I can oversee things while you're away. I'm sure Yixuan won't mind. Whether we live with you or not, it will be Yixuan's choice, but I suspect your mansion won't be empty at all. We all share bonds that can never be broken. I'm sure the whole group will stay around you two for a while. They are a unit, after all," Li Lun remarked, almost envisioning the daily chaos. Zhu Yan smiled warmly.
"That would be wonderful. Now, get some rest too, Li Lun. We still have our toughest battle ahead." Zhu Yan turned to leave the room to join his beloved in bed when suddenly the crystal flower inside Yixuan's pouch, placed on a small table beside the bed, burst free and flew toward the open door leading to Yichen's room.
Zhu Yan followed it quickly, not because he thought Yichen was in danger, but because he was curious about what Bing Yi had hidden in that illusion, and what he wanted Yichen to have. The first time the flower attempted to reach Yichen, it nearly killed him, demonstrating that he lacked the strength to obtain the secrets, but Yichen was no longer just a human. This time, he could reach it without fear and solve the mystery once and for all.
Upon reaching Yichen's room, he saw the flower hovering above him, emitting cold but gentle, pulsating waves as if urging Yichen to awaken. Previously, Zhu Yan had left the room when Yichen, exhausted, had fallen asleep. Now, however, Yichen was beginning to stir as the flower released more insistent cold pulses.
"Bing Yi, let me wake him up for you so he doesn't get cold again. It's challenging enough to warm him up as it is," Zhu Yan said to the flower. Li Lun had also followed the flower and was now observing it from the open doorway, intrigued by the scene.
Zhu Yan settled beside Yichen, gently caressing his handsome face. After softly calling his name a few times, Yichen slowly opened his bright blue eyes, first meeting Zhu Yan's gaze before noticing the floating crystal flower. As the realization of what he saw set in, surprise widened his eyes, and he sat up so quickly that Zhu Yan had to support him by placing an arm behind his back to steady him.
"Zhu Yan..." Yichen grasped Zhu Yan's left arm, as his other arm was supporting his back, and gave a slight squeeze, to convey his anxiety about the unexpected appearance of his brother's flower above him.
"It's alright, Baobei. Bing Yi's flower won't harm you this time. Your core is no longer sealed, you're a thousand times stronger than before, and this illusion is yours to reveal. We're very close to the Crystal Valley, so whatever lies within must be significant. Go ahead, take it." Zhu Yan encouraged him, and Yichen released Zhu Yan's arm and reached out toward the beautiful gold and turquoise flower gracefully drifting toward his open hand.
It was extremely cold to the touch, and frost began forming on his hand. However, it didn't cause him any kind of pain, rather, it tickled, sparking a smile from him as he glanced at Zhu Yan.
"How does it feel?" Zhu Yan inquired gently.
"It's quite different than before. It tickles... and I can sense Bing Yi's power enclosed within something. Even though the flower seems light, what's inside is immense, heavy, and incredibly solid," Yichen explained.
"Can you see what's inside?" Li Lun asked from the doorway.
"I lack your Truth Eye or my brother's golden eyes," Yichen replied.
"But you have something even better, Baobei. You have Bing Yi's sight right here..." Zhu Yan said tenderly, placing a soft kiss on Yichen's forehead right where Bing Yi's gem faintly glowed. Yichen blushed deeply, loving the gesture. In fact, he was so pleased that his small horns glowed bright blue in his delight, matching his eyes, which made Zhu Yan laugh and hug him, finding his cuteness irresistible. Li Lun just rolled his eyes.
"Come on, you two can be cute together after I'm gone. Can we focus on the mystery now?" Li Lun urged. Yichen blushed even more, but before Zhu Yan could pull away, Yichen held Zhu Yan's face with his free hand and kissed him softly on his lips.
"Oh, please..." sighed Li Lun as Zhu Yan grinned and released Yichen.
"Don't be impatient, Li Lun. Besides, this is how newly married couples act. Maybe you could take notes for Yixuan's sake," Zhu Yan teased.
"Zhu Yan, don't be rude. Sorry, Li Lun. I got carried away. Let me attempt to see beyond the illusion now," Yichen said earnestly, closing his eyes to channel Bing Yi's power.
When he reopened them, he no longer saw a flower. But what he saw was so startling that he gasped, dropping the flower and tightly grasping Zhu Yan's arm once more. Alarmed, Zhu Yan pulled Yichen closer and quickly placed a seal on the flower, uncertain of what lay within, yet aware it had deeply unsettled Yichen.
"Baobei, what did you see? Was it dangerous?" Zhu Yan asked, his gaze shifting to Li Lun, who had just entered the room in his own worry for his brother-in-law.
"Zhu Yan... Zhu Yan... it's... I can hardly believe it... how is this even possible? This could change everything, particularly for you, Ā Yan... everything aligned so perfectly... it's unbelievable... Ā Yan can finally be free... free..." Yichen mumbled, his heart racing as he tried to comprehend the full scope of what he had uncovered. It seemed too incredible, too flawless to fully accept. Nevertheless, Li Lun was growing impatient with Yichen's hesitant speech. He sought clarity.
"Yichen, just say it. What the hell is inside that flower?" Li Lun insisted, now full of anticipation, prompting Yichen to meet his gaze, still struggling to absorb the revelation.
"It's Bing Yi's core! His divine core! Not only that, but what is actually protecting it is Nuwa's five-colored stone! The final piece needed to permanently seal the demon world that was presumed lost. How crazy is that?" Yichen finally disclosed. The three of them gazed at the shining flower over the sheets as if they had uncovered the last piece of a grand puzzle. Their salvation and the key to ending Zhu Yan's watch over the gate once and for all.
Li Lun had to sit down. He walked to the foot of Yichen's bed and let himself sink into the mattress, giving the couple his back, overwhelmed as the full chain of events finally came together. He had come to the human world to challenge Zhu Yan, yet that path had led him straight to Yixuan. Then Yixuan cast Bing Yi's love spell to prove himself and challenge him back. His dragon spell had showered everyone in golden snow for hours. A sight so magical and beautiful that the humans demanded a celebration to fully enjoy it.
And that celebration was what pushed him to choose a gift for Yixuan, his self‑proclaimed disciple. Fate guided his hand to a flower, a flower that was no flower at all, but Bing Yi's core hidden in plain sight. He had carried it straight to Yixuan, who stood closest to Yichen, who in turn resonated most deeply with Bing Yi. That alone already felt like fate.
But it didn't stop there. Yichen's reaction to the flower while Yixuan was cultivating, the way it tried to strip away all his core seals, triggered a vision of Bing Yi's location inside the Crystal Valley. That single moment set everything else in motion: their decision to enter the demon world to save Bing Yi, and the discovery of the incoming demons that cemented their need to cross the gate.
Then the training began, their relationship grew into trust, and the core spells bound their fates permanently, not only saving them repeatedly, but also deepening his connection with Yixuan until it became a soulmate bond. A marriage.
Once they crossed worlds, the coming demons awakened Wen Xiao's insight first, then triggered Yichen's awakening, and finally Yixuan's, granting him the ability to open heaven's gate. Yichen gained Nuwa's missing five‑colored stone, meaning Yixuan could summon her and seal the demon world permanently. And if the seal were completed, Zhu Yan's centuries‑long duty to guard the gate would finally end.
To finish it, with Bing Yi's core in their possession, containing centuries of stored divine energy, they could cross the Crystal Valley safely and restore him to full strength. With Bing Yi back to who he once was, Cheng Huang's defeat was possible.
Ying Long's foresight had seemed unbelievable to Yichen. Now Li Lun realized it had been almost perfectly aligned with their choices. The impressive foresight, the divine chain of events, the centuries of planning, and the puzzles coming into place, they were all min-blowing. He turned to look at them, still in awe with all those revelations fresh in his mind, expecting the couple to be going trought something remarkably similar... only to immediately cough when he saw them kissing again.
He should have known. Yichen had already voiced what had struck him the hardest: the possibility of his husband's freedom. And naturally, the moment that truth settled in, he launched himself at Zhu Yan like a man possessed. And of course, Zhu Yan let him, because letting Yichen do whatever he wanted was his favorite thing in the world. Forget about bunnies being the most "passionate" animals. Dragons were!
"Fine! You can have your second honeymoon right away, you idiots. I'll make sure everyone else hears the news." Li Lun stood up just as Yichen ended a heated kiss, blushing all the way to his shining horns, while Zhu Yan looked like he was ready to start another round. Now they were both shameless. And that was Li Lun's cue to flee before he had to witness anything else.
AN: OH. MY. GOD!!!!! I finally did it! It all clicked into place after a full year of working on the pieces. Now they are all aligned for the grand ending! I'm so happy!! Thank you guys for reading this far. The end is coming and is going to be a very happy one. Until next time, please take care.